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Anthony Joshua expects to knock Joseph Parker out by the ninth round of their heavyweight unification fight on Saturday.

The IBF and WBA (Super) champion has a reputation to uphold having successfully predicted the outcome of his last four fights and pocketed £650 at the weekend when his sixth-round knockout bet on Dillian Whyte came through.

Joshua admitted he wants to maintain his winning streak and imagines a tired Parker to be open to a knockout by the eighth round.

‘I’ll punish him when he’s throwing at me and I’ll punish him when he’s thinking of throwing at me,’ Joshua explains.

‘I don’t know [what round]. You should have asked me the round before you told me about my predictions [streak] because now it’s on my mind.

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‘You prepare for a 12-round fight. One thing I used to think was, when you say it’s going four rounds and you’re opponent is still in there round eight. Takam I said ten rounds, I said I’d beat him in ten rounds.

‘I always say, mentally, I’m going to go 12 rounds. But, if everything goes to plan I think people fade between round eight and nine. I think Parker will fade around eight or nine.’

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(Picture: Getty)

(Picture: Getty)

Parker is considered the underdog for the contest at the Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, while Joshua will be fighting in front of 80,000 British fans.

The New Zealander will have pockets of support scattered across the stadium, but Joshua is convinced he has spotted Parker’s greatest weakness, his lack of counter-punching.

And Joshua plans to exploit that weakness to force his 21st stoppage in a row, which will also claim the Brit the WBO heavyweight title.

‘Meet straight, don’t back up,’ Joshua said when what he’ll do when the first bell rings.

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‘I’m not saying I’m going to be marching forward, but you meet him at a distance and you meet him coming in from distance. Position the hands and footwork.

‘Establish a range early on, and the difference is I know how to counter punch. I haven’t seen Parker counter punching anyone.’

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Sky Sports Box Office will exclusively show the Anthony Joshua v Joseph Parker unification fight on 31 March. Available to buy now at http://www.sky.com/orderboxoffice.

Metro.co.uk is reporting in association with Betfair – for latest odds go here.

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